A rich rich seam of music to discover within this, perhaps for some, untapped Belgian imprint.
I’ve written a number of times about European Synth labels and their American counterparts. I’m well aware that the releasing of records isn’t a competition, but those of the US are definitely winning the popularity contest. Flick through the wide range of online mags, time and time again it’s the US imprints getting the media attention. But before any of these contemporary American labels were formed, a long time before in fact, there were Europeans pioneering the sounds of Synth, EBM and New Beat. EE Tapes is one of those trailblazers. Established in 1987, Eriek Van Havere’s brainchild has been there, done that and knitted the t-shirt. The Belgian record man has never let up, and is still going strong. Recent releases include Kloot Per W and Nine Circles but there’s another long serving name that might catch some ears.
Bene Gesserit have been on the go for near thirty five years. The husband and wife duo have been at the forefront of Synth Wave for a third of a century, dishing up experimentation for OnderStroom, Walhalla and many more. THe SeCoND BeNeFiT sees this experienced partnership deliver six tracks. The 7” is split, The New Side with tracks from 2009 to present and The Old Side of, well, older material. There’s a dreaminess to the Bene Geesserit sound, one captured in the slow and hazy “She Sells Sea Shells On The Sea Show” and culminating in the breathless “Slowly Walking Between People.”
It’s all too easy to miss the smaller imprints of Synth Wave. I don’t know why, I guess there’s PR and connections and all that malark involved. But once found these lesser knowns will yield gold. I don’t know if EE Tapes should go under the lesser known banner, in fact it was one of the first but I don’t see them getting the same attention as others. A rich rich seam of music to discover within this, perhaps for some, untapped Belgian imprint.
THe SeCoND BeNeFiT is available on EE Tapes.
